Holder for an electronic device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a holder ( 1 ) for an electronic device ( 6 ), in particular a mobile telephone ( 6 ), having a mount ( 3 ), which is hinged on a base element ( 2 ) such that it can pivot, for the mobile telephone ( 6 ). In this case, an adapter ( 4 ) is arranged between the mount ( 3 ) and the mobile telephone ( 6 ) and is designed for electrical, electronic and/or mechanical matching of the mobile telephone ( 6 ) to the mount ( 3 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a National Stage Application of InternationalApplication No. PCT/DE02/03135, filed Aug. 23, 2002, which claims thebenefit of German Patent Application No. 101 40 379.8, filed Aug. 23,2001.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a holder for an electronic device.

2. Related Art

A holder such as this is known from DE 196 52 826 A1. This holder has abase element on which a mount is hinged, which can be pivoted away fromthe base element by means of spring force. The mount is intended to holda communication unit, one end of which is pushed onto it. Contact ismade with the communication unit via a plug connector which is insertedinto the mount. A holding apparatus such as this has the disadvantagethat matching of the holding apparatus to mobile telephones which arecurrently being marketed or will be marketed in the future, in terms ofthe shape of the mobile telephones and the interface to the mobiletelephone, is in many cases possible only by means of a different mount.The replacement of a mount is complicated, since it is necessary tomodify the pivoting mechanism of the holder for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of developing the holder for anelectronic device, which allows the holder to be matched from widelydiffering electronic devices without having to modify the holder itself.

The holder according to the invention has an adapter which can beinserted between the mount and the mobile telephone and is intended forelectrical, electronic and/or mechanical matching of the mount andmobile telephone to one another. This means that it is possible to useit for widely differing electronic devices and mobile telephones withoutany physical change to the mount or the base element, since the adapterallows the mount to be matched to the shape of the electronic device andto the interface of the electronic device. The matching process iscarried out simply by plugging the adapter onto the mount, and this canthus be done without any problems even by those who are unskilled.

One advantageous embodiment of the subject matter of the inventionprovides for the mount to be pivoted together with the adapter withrespect to the base element about a rotation axis which is essentiallyhorizontal or runs transversely with respect to the longitudinal axisand parallel to the upper face of the mobile telephone. In consequence,the adapter and the mobile telephone which is held in the adapter arepivoted into the viewing direction of the operator when they arearranged in the center console or in the cockpit of a motor vehicle, andcan thus be seen well in all pivoting positions.

A further advantage is that the mount and the adapter can be fixed toone another via a holding means. This ensures that the adapter and themount, which form a functional unit, are reliably held on one anotherduring daily use and a deliberate action by the user is required toseparate them from one another. In particular, provision is made for theadapter and the mount to be connected to one another temporarily via atleast one screw connection.

It is particularly advantageous for the adapter to essentially clasp therear face of the mobile telephone. In consequence, the mobile telephoneis optimally supported by the adapter, while at the same time allowingoperation of all the pushbuttons on the front face of the mobiletelephone, and an unimpeded view of the display on the mobile telephone.

The invention furthermore proposes that the adapter and the mount beequipped with electrical and/or optical contacts, in order to allowcommunication between the adapter and/or the mount and/or a radiotelephone.

The invention also provides for the mount to be connected to the adapterand/or to the mobile telephone in order to interchange data by means ofa radio link. This means that there is no need for any mechanicalcontacts. Alternatively, provision is made for the radio link to beprovided for the transmission of data and speech signals between themobile telephone and the motor vehicle, and to carry antenna signals viaa mechanical contact.

The invention also provides for the adapter to be formed from one ormore parts. An integral adapter represents a particularly simple,easy-to-handle, component. A multipart adapter allows matching to adifferent mobile telephone, and thus reuse of a part of the adapter,possibly by replacement of a single part of the adapter.

The invention furthermore provides for a spring element or a drive, inparticular an electric motor drive, to be arranged between the mountelement and the base element, in consequence allowing movement from alying position, in which the mount rests on the base element, to atilted position, in which the mount is at an angle of about 5° to 45° tothe base element. The mount is preferably held in the lying positionand/or in the tilted position by means of mechanical and/orelectromechanical latching elements.

One particular embodiment provides for the adapter to be used togetherwith the mobile telephone as a telephone unit, which can be separatedfrom the mount. A separation capability such as this allows confidentialcalls to be made, since the telephone unit can be used like a handset.In order to provide this convenience function, provision is also madefor the adapter to have a loudspeaker and a microphone which, inparticular, are arranged on a lower face of the adapter, facing awayfrom the mobile telephone. This embodiment makes it possible tooptimally match the loudspeaker and the microphone to the situation in amotor vehicle.

Finally, the invention provides for the mechanical latching elementwhich holds the mount in the lying position on the base element to be inthe form of a so-called push-push mechanism. This means that it ispossible to manually select between the lying position and the tiltedposition of the mount without any externally visible levers or knobswhatsoever being required on the holder. The push-push mechanism isoperated intuitively. Starting with a mount that is held in the lyingposition, the mount is pushed down smoothly in the direction of the baseelement to release the mount from the lying position, so that the driveraises it to the tilted position. The mount is returned from the tiltedposition to the lying position by pushing down or pivoting the mountonto the base element. As soon as the lying position is reached, thepush-push mechanism holds the mount firmly on the base element onceagain. This process can be repeated as often as desired. The push-pushmechanism in this case changes continually between the hold and releaseswitching states.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details of the invention will be described with reference toexemplary embodiments which are illustrated schematically in thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a mount with an adapter and a radio telephone in a lyingposition,

FIG. 2 shows the mount as illustrated in FIG. 1, with an adapter and amobile telephone, in a tilted position,

FIG. 3 shows an adapter with a mobile telephone, and

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a holder 1 which comprises a base element 2, a mount 3 andan adapter 4. The base element 2 and the mount 3 are connected to oneanother such that they can rotate about a rotation axis d which runs atright angles to the plane of the drawing, with the mount 3 being securedvia a detachable latching connection 16 against the force of a spring 5acting in the direction of the arrow F. The adapter 4 is fixed on themount 3 via latching connections, which are not illustrated, or via ascrew connection, which is not illustrated. The mount 3 and the adapter4 are in a lying position I. An electronic device or mobile telephone 6is held in the adapter 4 via detachable latching connections, which arenot illustrated. An upper face 7 of the mobile telephone 6 is freelyaccessible in the direction of the arrow x. A rear face (which is notillustrated but is opposite the upper face 7) of the mobile telephone isheld completely by the adapter 4. The latching connection 16 is formedin two parts, with a first component 16′ of the latching connection 16attached to the mount 3, and a second component 16″ of the latchingconnection 16 being connected to the base element 2. The fact that thecomponents 16′, 16″ are held together means that the mount 3 is held onthe base element 2 against the force of the spring 5.

FIG. 2 shows the holder 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a tiltedposition II. In this tilted position II, the mount and the adapter 4which is connected to it are pivoted through an angle α from the lyingposition I as illustrated in FIG. 1. The energy which is required forthe pivoting process is applied by the spring 5. The tilted position IIis used in particular to make it easier to remove the mobile telephone 6from the holder 1 when the latter is arranged in a console 8 which hasan upper edge K (indicated by a dashed line). In the tilted position II,the latching connection 16, which is in the form of a push-pushmechanism, is open. The component 16″ has released the component 16′.When the mount 3 is pushed down onto the base element 2, amushroom-headed pin 17 which is part of the component 16′ enters thecomponent 16″ and is gripped and held there by a mechanism which is notillustrated in any more detail.

FIG. 3 shows an adapter 4 which holds a mobile telephone 6 independentlyof the mount. The adapter has a microphone 10 and a loudspeaker 11 on alower face 9 and, together with the mobile telephone 6, forms atelephone unit or a handset 12. According to one embodiment variant,which is not illustrated, the handset 12 is connected via a cable to amount or base element.

In all the embodiment variants, the connection of the mobile telephoneto additional components which are arranged in the holder or in thevehicle, such as a hands-free device, display device, antenna amplifieror antenna, is provided without wires and/or via contacts and cables.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the mobile telephone holder as illustratedin FIG. 1. The mobile telephone 6 has a display 13 and a keypad block14, which is illustrated in simplified form, and is completelysurrounded by the adapter 4. The adapter 4 is located in the mount 3and, together with it, is hinged on the base element 2 such that it canrotate about the rotation axis d. The rotation axis d runs at rightangles to a longitudinal axis 1 of the mobile telephone 6, andapproximately parallel to the upper face 7 of the mobile telephone. Sidewalls 15 of the console 8 are indicated by dashed lines.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrated or describedexemplary embodiments. In fact, it covers developments of the inventionwithin the scope of the patent claims. In particular, the invention alsoprovides for the holder according to the invention to be arranged in theroof area of a vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   -   1 Holder    -   2 Base element    -   3 Mount    -   4 Adapter    -   5 Spring    -   6 Mobile telephone    -   7 Upper face of 6    -   8 Console    -   9 Lower face of 4    -   10 Microphone    -   11 Loudspeaker    -   12 Telephone unit, handset    -   13 Display    -   14 Keypad block    -   15 Side edge of 8    -   16 Latching connection    -   16′ First component of 16    -   16″ Second component of 16    -   17 Mushroom-headed pin    -   d Rotation axis of 1    -   l Longitudinal axis of 6    -   I Lying position    -   II Tilted position    -   α Angle between 2 and 3

1. A holder for an independently operable electronic device, the holdercomprising: a base element, a mount hinged on the base element such thatit can pivot between a lying position and a tilted position, and anadapter arranged to be removably connected to the mount between themount and the electronic device, wherein the adapter is configured tosubstantially conform to the shape of the electronic device and includesmeans for electrical and/or electro-mechanical matching of theelectronic device to the mount, and wherein the adapter is configured todetachably hold the electronic device such that the electronic device isremovable from the adapter for use while the adapter remains connectedto the mount.
 2. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mountpivots with the adapter about an essentially horizontal rotation axiswith respect to the base element.
 3. The holder as claimed in claim 1,wherein the base element is adapted for arrangement in a console orcockpit of a vehicle.
 4. The holder as claimed in claim 1, furtherincluding a holding mechanism connecting the mount with the adapter,wherein the holding mechanism includes one of a sprung slide, a latchingconnection, Velcro connection, a clamping connection, a permanentmagnet, an electromagnet or a screw connection.
 5. The holder as claimedin claim 1, wherein the adapter is removable from the mount and isinsertable together with the electronic device into the mount.
 6. Theholder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobiletelephone having a rear face and the adapter clasps the rear face. 7.The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter includes at leastone of electrical and optical contacts with the electronic device. 8.The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter includes at leastone of electrical and optical contacts with the mount.
 9. The holder asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the mount is connected to at least one ofthe adapter and to the electronic device via a radio link.
 10. Theholder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter is connected to theelectronic device via a radio link.
 11. The holder as claimed in claim1, wherein the adapter comprises one or more parts.
 12. The holder asclaimed in claim 1, further comprising a spring element arranged betweenthe mount and the base element and arranged to push the mount from thelying position to the tilted position.
 13. The holder as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising one of a mechanical and electro-mechanicallatching element arranged to hold the mount in the lying position. 14.The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein the latching element is amechanical latching element comprising a push-push mechanism adapted torelease the mount from the lying position to the tilted position after aslight push on the mount in the direction of the base element when themount is in the lying position, the push-push mechanism being furtheradapted to hold the mount in the lying position on the base elementafter the mount is pushed down from the tilted position to the lyingposition.
 15. The holder as claimed in claim 13, wherein the latchingelement comprises one of a latching hook and an electromagnet.
 16. Theholder as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a drive to move themount between the lying position and the tilted position.
 17. The holderas claimed in claim 16, wherein the drive is an electric motor drive.18. The holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adapter has a lowerface and the adapter includes a loudspeaker and a microphone arranged onthe lower face of the adapter.
 19. The holder as claimed in claim 1,wherein the electronic device is a mobile telephone.
 20. The holder asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a radio telephone.